Combination sink and shower unit

ABSTRACT

A combination sink and shower unit includes a cabinet having a top wall with a basin with connections for delivering water through a spout mounted adjacent one end of the basin and/or for delivering water through a hand spray shower which is mounted on one corner of the cabinet. The cabinet encloses a heater with suitable controls for heating the water to a suitable temperature which are visible on a front panel of the cabinet. The device includes a shower stall portion which includes a tray or catch basin at floor level. When folded, the shower stall portion defines a sink drain extending to one side of the sink basin but when it is opened it defines a shower stall with a high back wall for mounting the hand spray and a shower curtain.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Hans Marschnll Mettmann, Germany [21 1 Appl. No. 725,836

[22] Filed May 1,1968

[45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [73] Assignee Marshcall K. G.

Mettmann, Germany [54] COMBINATION SINK AND SHOWER UNIT 13 Claims, 3 Drawing Pg. [521 U.S. CL 4/145, 4/187 R [5 1 Int. Cl A47k 4/00 [50] FieldofSeareh 4/1,2,4,5, 145,146,147, 155, 156, 166, 173, 176

156] Referencs Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 237,196 2/1881 Martinez et a1 4/173 297,081 4/1884 Koons 4;4/146;4 489,485 l/ 1893 Linder 4/5 1,095,742 5/1914 Simms 4/5 1,095,837 5/1914 Freeman. 4/146 2,876,457 3/1959 Kaiser 4/4 Primary Examinerl.,aveme D. Geiger Assistant Examiner-Donald B. Massenberg AttorneysToren & McGeady, David Toren and Bernard McGeady ABSTRACT: A combination sink and shower unit includes a cabinet having a top wall with a basin with connections for delivering water through a spout mounted adjacent one end of the basin and/or for delivering water through a hand spray shower which is mounted on one comer of the cabinet. The cabinet encloses a heater with suitable controls for heating the water to a suitable temperature which are visible on a front panel of the cabinet. The device includes a shower stall portion which includes a tray or catch basin at floor level. When folded, the shower stall portion defines a sink drain extending to one side of the sink basin but when it is opened it defines a shower stall with a high back wall for mounting the hand spray and a shower curtain.

COMBINATION SINK AND SHOWER UNIT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of a combined shower stall and sink and in particular to a new and useful combined sink and shower unit in which the shower portion forms a sink drain when folded.

The invention is particularly directed to the construction of a combined sink and shower unit wherein a sink basin is mounted on a cabinet which contains a water supply and means for heating the water located within the cabinet. Sink cabinets and shower cabinets having integral water supply systems are known, but they are always either constructed as a separate sink cabinet unit or as a separate shower cabinet unit. When such cabinets must be erected, one beside the other, the space which they take up corresponds to the width of the sink cabinet plus the width of the shower cabinet. In addition, in order for the sink to be complete, it must be provided with a drain board, and this requires additional space in constructional materials.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a combined sink and shower unit which includes a cabinet mounting the sink basin which provides a housing for the water supply and heating means and which also forms a sidewall of a cabinet forming a sink drain which may be opened up to form a shower stall. One wall of the sink cabinet also forms a wall of the sink drain and shower unit. The front and top walls of the sink drain and shower unit are foldable upwardly and backwardly to define a back wall of a shower stall which also includes a mounting for a hand spray which is connected through a flexible hose into an opening of the sink. The construction of the unit makes it possible to construct a sink, a shower, and sink drain within much less space than the known separate units and which is simpler and less expensive to manufacture. In addition, the shower construction is such that all of the elements may be hidden within a sink drain cabinet formation when the shower is not in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a combined sink and shower unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sink and shower unit which includes a cabinet mounting a sink basin with the usual spout which is adapted to be connected to a water supply contained within the cabinet and a shower stall forming cabinet alongside the sink cabinet which forms a sink drain alongside the sink basin when folded and which includes a front and top wall which are unfoldable upwardly to define a back wall of a shower stall, the back wall including a mounting for a hand spray which is connected through a flexible hose into an opening of the sink.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination shower and sink unit which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front top perspective view of a combined sink and shower unit constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing an embodiment with an enlarged shower tray and indicating the shower cabinet in an opened shower stall forming position; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with a shower curtain in position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein in FIG. 1 comprises a sink cabinet portion generally designated I formed integrally with a combined sink drain and shower stall forming portion generally designated II. Unit I includes a housing 50 which encloses a water supply, heating and pump facilities and connecting piping (not shown) for supplying water to a spout 2 upon actuating either a cold or hot valve handle 52 and 54, respectively. The spout 2 is disposed at the rear of the sink basin 1 and it is arranged to discharge into the basin. A hand spray or shower head 3 is removably mounted in an opening of the top of the cabinet 50 and is connected through a flexible coupling or hose of a type indicated 3a in FIGS. 2 and 3 to the water supply (not shown) which is contained in the cabinet 50 or which is connected to an external supply.

The equipment (not shown) in the cabinet 50 advantageously includes an electric storage water heater preferably of the two circuit kind and an instrument panel 4 extending across the top front wall of the cabinet 50 comprises a pump switch 5, a temperature cycling control knob 6, a thermostat 7, and two indicating lamps 8a and 8b of different colors, for example red and green, which serve to indicate the state of operation of the electric water heater and to show whether a high power heater is in operation. For example, a 4 kilowatt heater comprises the high-power heater which operates when the hot water valve 54 is switched on to immediately heat the water as it flows. The low power heater, for example, 0.4 kilowatts, is designed to normally come on automatically when the water temperature in the water heater drops by a certain amount.

In accordance with the feature of the invention the combined sink drain cabinet and shower unit II is formed as a continuation of the unit I and a top wall or sink drain wall 12 thereof forms a sink drain at the same level as the top wall surrounding the basin 1. 'A common rear wall 9 for the unit I also serves as a rear wall for the sink drain cabinet formation indicated in FIG. 1 and it is hinged at its upper end to the top wall 12. The front wall of the sink drain cabinet formation is made up of a partial wall 11 hinged to outer end of the top wall 12 and a front wall 10 of a shower basin or tray 19 which is positioned at ground level.

In accordance with a feature of the invention the complete shower stall may be formed from the unit II by unfolding the front wall '11 and the top wall 12 backwardly and upwardly to a substantially vertical position at which they form a vertically elongated rear wall of a shower stall which is indicated only in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3. The handles 21 and 22 are provided for facilitating the handling of the parts as well as for the erecting of the rear wall of the shower stall.

In the embodiment indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, all of the parts have been similarly designated with the exception of the shower tray which has been designated 19' and which is shown as extending forwardly in front of the front wall of the cabinet 50 instead of being flush therewith as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The shower tray 19' may be made as large as indicated or may be carried as a drawer unit which may be swung out. In some instances it is preferable to form it of interfitting-telescopic parts (not shown).

In FIG. 2 it can be seen how the walls 12 and 11 are oriented to form a back wall of the shower stall. The wall 11 carries a hook or mounting bracket 56 for mounting the hand spray 3 in a position such that a shower will be directed downwardly on someone standing in the tray 19. The wall 11 also carries a shower curtain frame 16 which may be permanently or detachably secured thereto and which provides a supportfor rings 17 of a shower curtain 58. The shower curtain 58 is provided with a slide fastener closure 18 to facilitate the complete enclosing of the space above the rim of the tray 19'. The frame member 16 may of course advantageously be mounted on a pivot bracket on the wall 11 so that it may be folded inwardly into juxtaposition with the wall when the wall 1 l is in the position forming the front of the sink cabinet as indicated in FIG. 1.

It is possible to design the tray 19' with telescopic sections or as a sliding drawer so that the front thereof may be moved backwardly so that it will be flush with the front of the cabinet 50, as shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the tray 19' is hinged to the rear wall 9 to permit it to be shifted to a vertical orientation.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is: v

.1. A combined sink and shower unit comprising a first cabinet portion having a top with a sink basin, spout means associated with said sink basin for discharging water into said basin, a second cabinet portion integral with and adjacent to said first cabinet portion, a relatively low shower tray at least partially enclosed by said second cabinet portion, said second cabinet portion having a substantially vertical rear wall, a horizontal top wall hinged to said rear wall, and a front wall hinged to said top wall and limited in upward pivotable movement to a position coplanar with said top wall, said front and said top walls being pivotable about their substantially horizontal hinge connections to a substantially vertical position forming a rear shower wall for a shower stall and of substantially the same height as saidfirst cabinet portion.

2. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1,

wherein said first cabinet encloses a water supply, pump means for circulating water from said supply to said spout means, and means for heating at least a portion of said water supply.

3. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 2, wherein said heating means comprises a two circuit hot water storage device, said first cabinet having an instrument panel with indicating means and actuating means for said heating means and said pump means.

4. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, including a hand spray and flexible conduit means connected to said hand spray permitting said hand spray to be lifted from said first cabinet portion and used in said second cabinet portion for spraying a person standing in said shower tray.

5. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 4, including means defined on the interior of said front wall for mounting said hand spray on said shower wall formed by said front wall and said top wall.

6. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, wherein said shower tray comprises a sliding drawer, said first cabinet portion having means for receiving said drawer.

7. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, wherein said second cabinet portion includes a sidewall forming a sidewall of said first cabinet portion, a second sidewall of said second cabinet portion being spaced laterally from said first sidewalL'said shower tray being'disposed between said sidewalls.

8. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, including a shower curtain frame secured to the interior of said front wall and extending outwardly from said front wall when said front wall is in a vertical position to provide means for supporting a shower curtain thereon.

9. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, including means on the interior of said front wall providing a support bracket for a shower spray, and a hand spray or shower head carried on said first cabinet portion, flexible conduit means connected to said hand spray or shower head permitting it to be withdrawn from said first cabinet portion and mounted in said spray shower bracket of said front wall in a position to spray a person standing in said shower tray.

10. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 9, wherein said first cabinet portion includes an opening at the end thereof adjacent said second cabinet portion, said hand spray having an end which rs adapted to it in said opening when it is in a retracted position.

11. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, wherein said second cabinet portion top wall forms a sink drain for the sink basin of said first cabinet portion.

12. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, including a hand spray or shower head, a flexible conduit connected to said hand shower spray and adapted to be connected to the water supply, means for mounting said hand shower spray on said first cabinet portion permitting removal thereof and removal of the flexible coupling from the interior of said first cabinet portion, said second cabinet portion including a sidewall spaced from said first cabinet portion, said shower tray being disposed between said sidewall and said first cabinet portion and including a front wall forming a portion of the front of said second cabinet portion, said front wall extending downwardly from said top wall to said shower tray front portion, said top wall having a drain board formation thereon extending from said sidewall to said first cabinet portion at the level of the top of said first cabinet portion.

13. A combined sink and shower unit comprising a first cabinet portion having a first cabinet top wall containing a sink basin, said top being arranged at the normal table height and being provided with water fittings and a hand spray, a long flexible hose connected to said hand spray and to said water fittings on said sink top, apparatus for water circulation arranged under said sink basin and connectedto said water fittings for discharging water through said fittings and including means for heating water, a second cabinet portion having a second cabinet top corresponding in height substantially to the height of said first cabinet top and which is arranged in lateral juxtaposition to said first cabinet portion to form a complete sink and shower unit, said second cabinet top forming a drain board, said second cabinet including a rear wall, a sidewall extending outwardly and forwardly from said rear wall at the end thereof which is away from said first cabinet portion, a shower traylike plate of relatively shallow depth extending forwardly from said rear wall and defining a shower water collecting basin, said second cabinet portion having a front wall which is pivoted to said second cabinet top wall, said front wall and said second cabinet top wall being pivotally movable upwardly to a substantially vertical position to define a rear shower wall extending considerably higher than the top of said first and second cabinet portions, said front wall being limited in upward pivotable movement to a position coplanar with said top wall, said front wall including on its interior side bracket means for holding said hand spray to support said. hand spray in a position in which it may be employed as a shower spray at a location corresponding to the normal height of a person above said tray.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,600,720 Dated August 2 1, 1971 Inventor(5) HANS MARSCHALL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent, the priority claim has been omitted. It should read:

[32] Priority May 5, 1967 [33] Germany [31] M 58 "mu/3 m Gbm Sismed and sealed this 1 8th day of January 1 972.

(SEAL) Attest:

RD M.FLETCHER JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHIILK ii sting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents RM PO- 0 USCOMM-DC GOSIB-F'GQ 

1. A combined sink and shower unit comprising a first cabinet portion having a top with a sink basin, spout means associated with said sink basin for discharging water into said basin, a second cabinet portion integral with and adjacent to said first cabinet portion, a relatively low shower tray at least partially enclosed by said second cabinet portion, said second cabinet portion having a substantially vertical rear wall, a horizontal top wall hinged to said rear wall, and a front wall hinged to said top wall and limited in upward pivotable movement to a position coplanar with said top wall, said front and said top walls being pivotable about their substantially horizontal hinge connections to a substantially vertical position forming a rear shower wall for a shower stall and of substantially the same height as said first cabinet portion.
 2. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, wherein said first cabinet encloses a water supply, pump means for circulating water from said supply to said spout means, and means for heating at least a portion of said water supply.
 3. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 2, wherein said heating means comprises a two circuit hot water storage device, said first cabinet having an instrument panel with indicating means and actuating means for said heating means and said pump means.
 4. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, including a hand spray and flexible conduit means connected to said hand spray permitting said hand spray to be lifted from said first cabinet portion and used in said second cabinet portion for spraying a person standing in said shower tray.
 5. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 4, including means defined on the Interior of said front wall for mounting said hand spray on said shower wall formed by said front wall and said top wall.
 6. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, wherein said shower tray comprises a sliding drawer, said first cabinet portion having means for receiving said drawer.
 7. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, wherein said second cabinet portion includes a sidewall forming a sidewall of said first cabinet portion, a second sidewall of said second cabinet portion being spaced laterally from said first sidewall, said shower tray being disposed between said sidewalls.
 8. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, including a shower curtain frame secured to the interior of said front wall and extending outwardly from said front wall when said front wall is in a vertical position to provide means for supporting a shower curtain thereon.
 9. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, including means on the interior of said front wall providing a support bracket for a shower spray, and a hand spray or shower head carried on said first cabinet portion, flexible conduit means connected to said hand spray or shower head permitting it to be withdrawn from said first cabinet portion and mounted in said spray shower bracket of said front wall in a position to spray a person standing in said shower tray.
 10. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 9, wherein said first cabinet portion includes an opening at the end thereof adjacent said second cabinet portion, said hand spray having an end which is adapted to fit in said opening when it is in a retracted position.
 11. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, wherein said second cabinet portion top wall forms a sink drain for the sink basin of said first cabinet portion.
 12. A combined sink and shower unit according to claim 1, including a hand spray or shower head, a flexible conduit connected to said hand shower spray and adapted to be connected to the water supply, means for mounting said hand shower spray on said first cabinet portion permitting removal thereof and removal of the flexible coupling from the interior of said first cabinet portion, said second cabinet portion including a sidewall spaced from said first cabinet portion, said shower tray being disposed between said sidewall and said first cabinet portion and including a front wall forming a portion of the front of said second cabinet portion, said front wall extending downwardly from said top wall to said shower tray front portion, said top wall having a drain board formation thereon extending from said sidewall to said first cabinet portion at the level of the top of said first cabinet portion.
 13. A combined sink and shower unit comprising a first cabinet portion having a first cabinet top wall containing a sink basin, said top being arranged at the normal table height and being provided with water fittings and a hand spray, a long flexible hose connected to said hand spray and to said water fittings on said sink top, apparatus for water circulation arranged under said sink basin and connected to said water fittings for discharging water through said fittings and including means for heating water, a second cabinet portion having a second cabinet top corresponding in height substantially to the height of said first cabinet top and which is arranged in lateral juxtaposition to said first cabinet portion to form a complete sink and shower unit, said second cabinet top forming a drain board, said second cabinet including a rear wall, a sidewall extending outwardly and forwardly from said rear wall at the end thereof which is away from said first cabinet portion, a shower traylike plate of relatively shallow depth extending forwardly from said rear wall and defining a shower water collecting basin, said second cabinet portion having a front wall which is pivoted to said second cabinet top wall, said front wall and said second cabinet top wall being pivOtally movable upwardly to a substantially vertical position to define a rear shower wall extending considerably higher than the top of said first and second cabinet portions, said front wall being limited in upward pivotable movement to a position coplanar with said top wall, said front wall including on its interior side bracket means for holding said hand spray to support said hand spray in a position in which it may be employed as a shower spray at a location corresponding to the normal height of a person above said tray. 